第426章

Two persons passed near me -- allow me to conceal their names for the present; they were speaking in an undertone, and yet I was so interested in what they said that I did not lose a single word.""This is a gloomy introduction, if I may judge from your pallor and shuddering, Morrel.""Oh, yes, very gloomy, my friend.Some one had just died in the house to which that garden belonged.One of the persons whose conversation I overheard was the master of the house;the other, the physician.The former was confiding to the latter his grief and fear, for it was the second time within a month that death had suddenly and unexpectedly entered that house which was apparently destined to destruction by some exterminating angel, as an object of God's anger.""Ah, indeed?" said Monte Cristo, looking earnestly at the young man, and by an imperceptible movement turning his chair, so that he remained in the shade while the light fell full on Maximilian's face."Yes," continued Morrel, "death had entered that house twice within one month.""And what did the doctor answer?" asked Monte Cristo.

"He replied -- he replied, that the death was not a natural one, and must be attributed" --"To what?"

"To poison."

"Indeed?" said Monte Cristo with a slight cough which in moments of extreme emotion helped him to disguise a blush, or his pallor, or the intense interest with which he listened; "indeed, Maximilian, did you hear that?""Yes, my dear count, I heard it; and the doctor added that if another death occurred in a similar way he must appeal to justice." Monte Cristo listened, or appeared to do so, with the greatest calmness."Well," said Maximilian, "death came a third time, and neither the master of the house nor the doctor said a word.Death is now, perhaps, striking a fourth blow.Count, what am I bound to do, being in possession of this secret?""My dear friend," said Monte Cristo, "you appear to be relating an adventure which we all know by heart.I know the house where you heard it, or one very similar to it; a house with a garden, a master, a physician, and where there have been three unexpected and sudden deaths.Well, I have not intercepted your confidence, and yet I know all that as well as you, and I have no conscientious scruples.No, it does not concern me.You say an exterminating angel appears to have devoted that house to God's anger -- well, who says your supposition is not reality? Do not notice things which those whose interest it is to see them pass over.If it is God's justice, instead of his anger, which is walking through that house, Maximilian, turn away your face and let his justice accomplish its purpose." Morrel shuddered.There was something mournful, solemn, and terrible in the count's manner."Besides," continued he, in so changed a tone that no one would have supposed it was the same person speaking -- "besides, who says that it will begin again?""It has returned, count," exclaimed Morrel; "that is why Ihastened to you."

"Well, what do you wish me to do? Do you wish me, for instance, to give information to the procureur?" Monte Cristo uttered the last words with so much meaning that Morrel, starting up, cried out, "You know of whom I speak, count, do you not?""Perfectly well, my good friend; and I will prove it to you by putting the dots to the `i,' or rather by naming the persons.You were walking one evening in M.de Villefort's garden; from what you relate, I suppose it to have been the evening of Madame de Saint-Meran's death.You heard M.de Villefort talking to M.d'Avrigny about the death of M.de Saint-Meran, and that no less surprising, of the countess.

M.d'Avrigny said he believed they both proceeded from poison; and you, honest man, have ever since been asking your heart and sounding your conscience to know if you ought to expose or conceal this secret.Why do you torment them?

`Conscience, what hast thou to do with me?' as Sterne said.

My dear fellow, let them sleep on, if they are asleep; let them grow pale in their drowsiness, if they are disposed to do so, and pray do you remain in peace, who have no remorse to disturb you." Deep grief was depicted on Morrel's features; he seized Monte Cristo's hand."But it is beginning again, I say!""Well," said the Count, astonished at his perseverance, which he could not understand, and looking still more earnestly at Maximilian, "let it begin again, -- it is like the house of the Atreidae;* God has condemned them, and they must submit to their punishment.They will all disappear, like the fabrics children build with cards, and which fall, one by one, under the breath of their builder, even if there are two hundred of them.Three months since it was M.de Saint-Meran; Madame de Saint-Meran two months since; the other day it was Barrois; to-day, the old Noirtier, or young Valentine."* In the old Greek legend the Atreidae, or children of Atreus, were doomed to punishment because of the abominable crime of their father.The Agamemnon of Aeschylus is based on this legend.

"You knew it?" cried Morrel, in such a paroxysm of terror that Monte Cristo started, -- he whom the falling heavens would have found unmoved; "you knew it, and said nothing?""And what is it to me?" replied Monte Cristo, shrugging his shoulders; "do I know those people? and must I lose the one to save the other? Faith, no, for between the culprit and the victim I have no choice.""But I," cried Morrel, groaning with sorrow, "I love her!""You love? -- whom?" cried Monte Cristo, starting to his feet, and seizing the two hands which Morrel was raising towards heaven.